Old Town Hall, Wilmington

Old Town Hall was built in 1798 as the center of the city's government. For almost a century, town meetings, elections and trials were held at the town hall. Likewise, the building was home to a library and jail cells. It held this role until 1916 when it was purchased by the Historical Society of Delaware.

Modeled after Philadelphia’s Congress Hall, the Old Town Hall is designed in the late-Georgian and early-Federal architectural styles. The brick building has a sloping roof with an octagonal cupola.

It originally held a bronze bell referred to as the Tatnall Bell. It was named after the Wilmington merchant who purchased the bell and the clock for the town hall. The bell was cast in England and worked with the clock to strike on the hour. It could not be rung manually to sound a fire alarm, call citizens to meetings, or perform special celebration or mourning. Today the Tatnall Bell can be found across the street from the Old Town Hall between the Simms House and the Library.

Those who wish to tour the building may take a self-guided tour from noon to 5 PM on Wednesdays through Sundays. These tours need to be scheduled in advance by contacting the historical society. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.